seems like i've been spending most of my spare time galavanting through all boroughs EXCEPT manhattan. even as a manhattanite, i am not ashamed to admit that i have a soft spot for the outer boroughs. my grandparents live in flushing, so queens holds a tender place in my heart. and besides, flushing has the Best Dim Sum in new york city. i specify that because really? the best dim sum is in hong kong. other great things in queens: The Mets, home to my favorite sporting even (the U.S. Open), and two places I spent browning myself last weekend:
Water Taxi Beach
dude. i love this place. they even have their own blog. it's also just a great place to chill on a sunny weekend when the thought of venturing to a beach via train or car seems too overwhelming. My cous and I took the water taxi from the 34th street pier (also reachable via the 7 train-- 1 stop from manhattan) and parked ourselves on one of their benches. the sand here was hauled from new jersey (stop hating on the jersey!) and the spot overlooks the east river and the nyc skyline-- a perfect spot to drink cheap beers, eat bbq (even vegetarian options!) and watch the sunset. and on weekends they have Big Name DJs (i kid you not--Grandmaster Flash is friggin spinning in August) spinning till you're too wasted to worry if you're burnt to a crisp.
Jacob Riis Park
me and my NC gals road-tripped through all of brooklyn (and i mean, ALL of brooklyn) to get to "deserted" Jacob Riis Park in the Rockaways (that's the edge of Queens kids). and by deserted, i mean it was fucking crowded. holy shit, this place was packed with a whole other side of new york--tons of families (this place definitely shows Queens strong and growing latin population) grilling on the lawn and tons of more families frolicking on the beach. walk east a little, and you find the gay side of the beach. which is also the nude side of the beach. holy crap, i saw some boobs that i really wasn't prepared to see...and i thought the sun was blinding.
this weekend, i was all about BK! that's brooklyn bitches. except, the part of brooklyn i frequented was more refined, more grown-up, and more unlike my life. i spent half the weekend pretending that smith street was les champs elysses and celebrated bastille day with the rest of the cool brooklynites (often cool brooklyn couples walking hand-in-hand) and got in a game of petanque. my friend C and i had the Best Petanque Team Name: Team Twinkie. if you saw us, you would get it. the cafe owner who set up petanque courts showed me the proper way to toss un boule and i must admit, the game is friggin fascinating.
the other part of my weekend was spent at a friend's rooftop party in boerum hill (celebrity followers: they live 2 blocks from Heath and Michelle) and admired the incredible view from their newly refurbished roof. i have to admit, i had a bit of life-envy as i watched my friend's hubby grilling from their brand spanking new grill (with a nightlight included!) and admired the idyllic patio furniture as I sat munching on cucumber salad, staring over at manhattan in the not-so-far distance. yes, i aspire to a hip brooklyn lifestyle, including a hip brooklyn hubby who maybe cooks and is handy around the house and appreciates my affinity for a good roasted pork loin. mmm...pork. but last i checked, i'm still a manhattanite who lives alone, cooks (and drinks) by herself some days when not laughing up a storm and being stupid with friends on other days. i guess my dream life in the brooklyn (or another borough for that matter) will have to wait.
Showing posts with label new york city. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new york city. Show all posts
Sunday, July 15
Sunday, May 20
art-full
despite a late night partying in a very rainy brooklyn, i summoned up some residual energy to roll out of bed and trek uptown to see the Robert Moses exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, one of the more under-rated museums in this city. it's a beautiful, small museum and i implore anyone with a remote interest in New York City history to venture to this exhibit-- just one in a three exhibit series (the others at the Queens Museum and the other at the Wallach Gallery at Columbia University) on the City's greatest master planner. it features photographs, plans, and models of his successes (the Triborough Bridge, Henry Hudson Parkway, East River Park) and his defeats (the Lower Manhattan Expressway, which would have razed down historic Washington Square Park; or the Brooklyn-Battery Bridge, which would have placed a double suspension bridge across NY Harbor).
for better or worse, Moses' legacy is undeniable; he was the architect behind much of the City's beloved public spaces as well as a man whose vision for urban renewal centered on major infrastructure development, linking the City to its outer regions rather than preserving neighborhoods. in many ways, Moses stood for much of what I dislike about modern economic development: a razor-sharp focus on improving the place with little regard to the people who reside in those places. on the other hand, without his leadership, the City may never have seen some of its greatest treasures (and some of my personal favorite spots), including: Central Park Zoo, the Conservatory Gardens, and Lincoln Center.
the Moses exhibit was do-able in less than 90 minutes, giving me time to catch some rays in Central Park before meeting friends for a much more downtown art experience. in fact it was downtown, out of one borough and into Bed-Stuy Brooklyn where Mel's friend was one of a number of artists showcasing their work at an artist enclave where artists live and work in affordable spaces. the installation we saw was phenomenal-- a clinical interpretation of Greek myths, interwoven (literally) with musical over- and undertones. she's brilliant. it's intimidating and yet she is anything but intimidating. man, i wish i had that kind of mind. it was a great day.
for better or worse, Moses' legacy is undeniable; he was the architect behind much of the City's beloved public spaces as well as a man whose vision for urban renewal centered on major infrastructure development, linking the City to its outer regions rather than preserving neighborhoods. in many ways, Moses stood for much of what I dislike about modern economic development: a razor-sharp focus on improving the place with little regard to the people who reside in those places. on the other hand, without his leadership, the City may never have seen some of its greatest treasures (and some of my personal favorite spots), including: Central Park Zoo, the Conservatory Gardens, and Lincoln Center.
the Moses exhibit was do-able in less than 90 minutes, giving me time to catch some rays in Central Park before meeting friends for a much more downtown art experience. in fact it was downtown, out of one borough and into Bed-Stuy Brooklyn where Mel's friend was one of a number of artists showcasing their work at an artist enclave where artists live and work in affordable spaces. the installation we saw was phenomenal-- a clinical interpretation of Greek myths, interwoven (literally) with musical over- and undertones. she's brilliant. it's intimidating and yet she is anything but intimidating. man, i wish i had that kind of mind. it was a great day.
Friday, December 29
NY Gems
today, i ventured up to Upper Manhattan via the M4 bus...which, though lovely to be above ground on a such a sunny day, it still took 90 EFFEN MINUTES to get from 83rd and Madison to 190th and Fort Washington. but i digress as the journey was worth it. i got to re-visit one of NYC's gems: The Cloisters. this Metropolitan Museum of Art outpost is exclusively dedicated to European medieval art, most famous of its exhibits are the unicorn tapestries. it's a beautiful but somber place, with magnificent views of the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge. i was there for a concert for which my spectacularly talented friend Misch performed in. she performed as a part of a Trio featuring medeival chants and songs celebrating Christmas. i sat for an hour just transfixed by the purity of their voices. what a gift.
and lest i forget another gem in NYC, i finally uploaded some pics from my visit to the NY Botanical Garden back in October. M.E. accompanied me on a b-day field trip to this section of the Bronx to partake in the Chihuly Blown Glass Exhibit there. it was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday-- walking around the immense and immaculate gardens, examining the precision in the glasswork and spending some quality time with a new friend.
and lest i forget another gem in NYC, i finally uploaded some pics from my visit to the NY Botanical Garden back in October. M.E. accompanied me on a b-day field trip to this section of the Bronx to partake in the Chihuly Blown Glass Exhibit there. it was the perfect way to celebrate my birthday-- walking around the immense and immaculate gardens, examining the precision in the glasswork and spending some quality time with a new friend.
Monday, August 21
What a Wonderful Town!
Today was my first full day back in Manhattan in weeks—WEEKS! And to think I had so much fun this summer in our nation’s capital that I almost forgot the big and little details that underline my love for this city. New York is not for everyone—it just isn’t. It’s smelly, dirty, crowded, and noisy. But it’s also dynamic, diverse, strong, and energizing. And it teaches you to walk fast. I am most definitely a fast walker.
So today, after six hours locked inside a court room doing my civic duty (ah jury duty…), I went out for a long walk—from downtown up through Chelsea, sweating out my thoughts and re-tracing the reasons that make New York so special…five favorites from an un-countable list of favorites:
1. The Chrysler Building
It’s the one thing I look for in the skyline when I approach the city from the N.J. Turnpike…not the Empire State Building…but the Chrysler. Its beautiful art-deco exterior is classic and unique in a city packed with skyscrapers that often lack character. In my first NY apartment, I had a direct view of the Chrysler building right out my kitchen window. Wish I spent more time appreciating that view…
2. Hudson River
Yes, one of the rivers is prettier. Sorry, but the East River is ugly whereas the Hudson, drenched with sun, shimmers. Sure, I may not want to swim in it (though some do) but I do enjoy looking at it, especially when you walk along the recently re-furbished esplanade that curves round Lower Manhattan and up towards midtown, where there’s ample grassy spots to lay out on, numerous recreational facilities (including an awesome set of tennis courts by Canal Street) and modernized piers to walk out to…
3. West Village
This will always be my favorite NY neighborhood. When you’re here, you don’t realize you’re in a big city…instead, you get lost down winding streets lined with old brownstones where sometimes the addresses count in half increments…
4. Central Park
The center of Manhattan—without the park, the city loses its heart, its essence. I love sitting out on a bench drinking coffee and reading the paper on a Sunday…or picnicking with friends at one of the summer’s many cultural activities on the Great Lawn…or just plain people watching (aka trolling for hot men with their shirts off playing frisbee) at Sheep’s Meadow. wander to the park’s northern regions, and you find truly quiet sections made for solitary reflection (like the Conservatory Gardens i stumbled upon last summer).
5. The Mets
Nothing connects you to a city like a sports team. And The Mets are my sports team. First thing I did when I got back to NYC? Go to a Mets game. Whether they’re in contention or breaking your heart cuz they’re sucking so bad…I stick by my team.
Thursday, November 10
Transit Notes
you can empower citizens, but can you implement the decisions? that's the question the oft-maligned MTA has to answer after NYC voters (yay power of the vote!) approved the ballot in Tuesday's election allowing the use of state $$$ to finally finally FINALLY build the long talked about but never evolved 2nd avenue subway line. what voter would VOTE AGAINST that motion? beats me. but if you've ever taken the 4,5,6 lines during the height of rush hour-- you know: this city desperately needs an additional subway line on the east side to diffuse the crowds and increase access points. NOW. the cynic in me shakes my head and wonders-- it was great that New Yorkers were given a role in this decision-making process...but will we still be around to see this project through to its desired result? given all the subway detours/hassles/confusion created on weekends due to construction at current stations, one has to wonder...but man, don't those new red coats look snazzy on all the station attendants? i'm glad the MTA knows how to effectively spend our tax dollars...
the Christmas Tree arrived at Rockefeller Center today, cut fresh from Wayne, NJ....leading me to wonder-- where the hell did all the time go? its two weeks (TWO WEEKS!) until thanksgiving...and here i was just starting to put away my opened-toe shoes...
just saw another commercial for Rent. i am SO EXCITED. finally, a slew of new movies worth seeing as we move full speed ahead into the holidays. on my must-see list:
1. Rent
2. Walk the Line
3. Derailed
4. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
5. The Squid and the Whale
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
7. Chronicles of Narnia
8. Memoirs of a Geisha
any other opinions or recommendations? i haven't seen a movie since August!
the Christmas Tree arrived at Rockefeller Center today, cut fresh from Wayne, NJ....leading me to wonder-- where the hell did all the time go? its two weeks (TWO WEEKS!) until thanksgiving...and here i was just starting to put away my opened-toe shoes...
just saw another commercial for Rent. i am SO EXCITED. finally, a slew of new movies worth seeing as we move full speed ahead into the holidays. on my must-see list:
1. Rent
2. Walk the Line
3. Derailed
4. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
5. The Squid and the Whale
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
7. Chronicles of Narnia
8. Memoirs of a Geisha
any other opinions or recommendations? i haven't seen a movie since August!
Wednesday, August 31
the life of the unemployed and fabulous!
for the past 3 weeks, i've been living out my much needed, oft-fantasized time off between work and school. this "interim stage" has been a blur of days--who knew that unemployment during the final heated weeks of summer could be so exhausting...and fabulous? we should all quit our jobs and just let loose. we should all also win the lottery in order to fund such a pseudo-luxurious lifestyle.
unfortunately, my attention span is as long as a standard 30-minute sitcom, without commercials (dude, i flip during commercials)-- meaning i barely stay put for 20 odd minutes. without work to constantly fill my time, i thought i'd surely go crazy suffering from a mix of boredom and/or daytime tv hell. fortunately, i concocted a "to-do" list crammed full of fun nyc-related jaunts that provided more than enough daily stimulation...it also helps to have a group of crazy friends game for indulging in many alcohol-driven get-togethers at the drop of a hat. thanks, friends....i'll see you at AA in 5 years...haha. oh so sad but true.
so. the real problem has been the LACK of time. go figure. now, as summer (and my time off) winds down to its inevitable denoument, here are a few recaps, reviews, and recommendations...
Go to Hell...or just Go to The Hamptons
six years in nyc, and this was my very first summer in the Hamptons. my friend cbear and i did what any restless new yorker would do to avoid the city's oppressive humidity: we got ourselves a share house. four glamourous weekends out east? more like four weekends living out the frat house days we never had in college. um, yea. wanna challenge me to a flip cup duel? i'm your girl.
without mincing words, the house was a charming l'il shit hole in westhampton. great pool. kick ass tennis court. no air conditioning. and flies everywhere! by the end of the weekend, it became a health hazard to use one of the bathrooms. yea, this was a classy joint. what the house lacked in amenities was surely made up for in the varied personalities of our house mates. twenty pseudo-strangers partying like rock stars (or r&b stars, as we actually saw usher one saturday nite at a club) and drinking as if it were our last days on earth. our livers may never be the same, but we certainly generated enough dramatic material for a reality show cbear and i would like to pitch to fox-- Share House: Hamptons. can you see it now?...it can be franchised into many variations like, Share House: Aspen. we like to keep things seasonally-agnostic.
for me, my favorite hamptons share weekend was weekend #3. cbear and i rented a car and headed out butt-early one friday to explore east hampton's fabled Main Beach--regarded as one of the top beaches in the U.S. its stretch of sand was crowded with other early weekenders-- but walk a little ways down away from the central section near the parking lot, and you come across rockier stretches, where you can steal a look at some of the finest mansions as well as a view of the cute surfer boys (emphasis on boys) catching waves in the chilly waters. fantastic beach time can only be matched by lunch at the famed Lobster Roll in Amagansett where we had, what else? but lobster rolls! fresh and chunky pieces tossed in mayo and over-stuffed into a toasted hot dog bun. how do you spell H-E-A-V-E-N?
after two-days of more craziness at the house...we capped off the weekend with an afternoon at Montauk-- the eastern most point of Long Island. here, you can stroll up to the famous lighthouse or just perch yourself on a rock and stare out at the massive Atlantic. me? i plan to head back in winter, run on the snow-covered beach and seek out my future dream home a la Joel and Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
summer may be ending, but i have enough brain cells left (i hope) to wax sentimental over kegs, karaoke, taboo (diamonds!), and endless hot tub shenanigans.
Certified and Ready: May I take your drink order?
having worked for 6+ years plus the various intern/retail/babysitting stints i've had since early high school, the mere idea of unemployment doesn't sit well with me. so what else besides phone sex and prostitution could make me loads of money, yet not forcing me to sell out or sell my soul? bartending baby!
my friend dan and i always said we'd wanted to get some mixology skills. i mean, we like to drink...we mine as well get paid while doing it! ha. or so we thought.
we enrolled at the New York Bartending School, and though the class was filled with a mix of young kids rearing for a good time (literally, KIDS, at least five of them were under 21)-- we soon realized that bartending school was not going to be as easy as we thought. class was fun but at the end of it, you started to wish the bottles were filled with things OTHER than colored water. it was a two-week 40 hour course that sucked up our nights and caused some minor distress as our final test was to make 20 drinks in under 6 minutes. two shots of qualude and two shots of sicilan kiss? What the Fuck? who the hell orders these things? well...now, dan and i do...purely for shits and giggles. but still.
i scored a personal best of 4 min and 20 seconds on my speed drill and dan and i leveraged our extensive years of training (read: quick road to alcoholism) to speed through the written test as well. now we just need to get behind a bar, strut our stuff, and make some good tips. any takers?
I Heart NYC
people can say what they will about obnoxious new yorkers, the smell of the subway, or the supposed lack of beauty that is the nyc skyline. but ever since i was a kid, nyc was the ultimate destination to make things happen. sure, the city has its idiosyncracies-- its bad habits that i could certainly live without...but for every moment of wanderlust that stirs me to travel abroad or just out of state...i always return home back to nyc. THIS love affair, unlike so many others, is going to last.
what i love most about new york is its many secrets--the hidden gems tucked away in corners of manhattan or brooklyn or queens that you don't often see, but stumble upon by accident. the first thing on my nyc to-do list was a visit to the fantastic Museum of the City of New York (MCNY). typically, people tend to head straight to The Met (which is definitely amazing and expansive) but not everyone ventures uptown a few more blocks, past 90th street (if even) to roam through museum mile's other cultural havens. asides from the MCNY, you can visit the Cooper-Hewitt museum, housed in the exquisite Carnegie Mansion. its a personal favorite of mine; meander through the rooms of exhibits (Cooper-Hewitt focuses on design so its permanent and rotating collection features everything from drawings and prints to glassware, books, and furniture) and then relax on the lawn of its beautiful private garden.
en route to the MCNY i took a detour into the north end of Central Park. as with many new yorkers, our ritualistic exploration of the park stops at the resevoir-- there's a tendency to forget that the park extends upwards to 110th street where both the landscape and pace are markedly different from its more crowd-centric mid and lower sections. i entered at 110th and Lenox as my eyes were quickly drawn to the expansive Harlem Meer-- the second largest lake in the park--and perhaps the prettiest section I've ever seen. it's perimeter is surrounded by a canopy of trees dotted with uncrowded benches, making it a perfect spot to sit, be quiet and just reflect. a few blocks south is the Conservatory Garden, the only formally planned garden in all of Central Park. this is truly a hidden wonder. once you pass through the gates, you're in a virtual oasis filled with a diversity of plant life-- flowers of all kinds, trimmed hedges, twisting trees--all set along immaculate pathways leading to lovely fountains, positioned as the garden's natural focal points. there are actually three distinct gardens here--each representing a particular european landscape style-- english, french, and italian. i took my time, sat by the fountain of the Three Dancing Maidens, and let the sound of trickling water wash over me, allowing all my neuroses to slip off and just float away. moments like this are so rare, and reminds me of why nyc is such a special place.
other NYC highlights in the past three weeks:
the aforementioned Museum of the City of New York-- go see the New York Changing photography exhibit. you will marvel at thetransformation this city has seen in the past 70+ years...and perhaps be saddened by the loss of architectural wonders from a bygone era.
http://www.mcny.org/exhibitions/current/87.html
take a guided tour of Governor's Island, a 90 acre land mass nestled between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. it's a former military post but also contains layers of American (and New York) history dating back to American Revolutionary days. you can only take a guided tour on weekdays-- and I highly recommend it as you walk through the two forts and learn about the island's function as a former military community-- with everything from old victorian style homes, an old hospital, prison, church, and synagogue. the cost for the ferry ride over is just $6 and it makes for a lovely 2 hours.
http://www.governorsislandnationalmonument.org/
and when the cultural endeavors are done with, what's a better way to cap off a day than with a nice cold beer? how about nice cold $2 PBR tall boys (24 oz baby) and an awesome view to boot? forget the beach and head to Long Island City, Queens for the Water Taxi Beach Bar. this is by far the most relaxing, laid-back bar in the city. they've set up sand and benches on the edge of the Water Taxi terminal on the east river...and you can down cheap beer and munch on close to cheap burgers and dogs while watching the sun set over the manhattan skyline.
http://watertaxibeach.com/
unfortunately, my attention span is as long as a standard 30-minute sitcom, without commercials (dude, i flip during commercials)-- meaning i barely stay put for 20 odd minutes. without work to constantly fill my time, i thought i'd surely go crazy suffering from a mix of boredom and/or daytime tv hell. fortunately, i concocted a "to-do" list crammed full of fun nyc-related jaunts that provided more than enough daily stimulation...it also helps to have a group of crazy friends game for indulging in many alcohol-driven get-togethers at the drop of a hat. thanks, friends....i'll see you at AA in 5 years...haha. oh so sad but true.
so. the real problem has been the LACK of time. go figure. now, as summer (and my time off) winds down to its inevitable denoument, here are a few recaps, reviews, and recommendations...
Go to Hell...or just Go to The Hamptons
six years in nyc, and this was my very first summer in the Hamptons. my friend cbear and i did what any restless new yorker would do to avoid the city's oppressive humidity: we got ourselves a share house. four glamourous weekends out east? more like four weekends living out the frat house days we never had in college. um, yea. wanna challenge me to a flip cup duel? i'm your girl.
without mincing words, the house was a charming l'il shit hole in westhampton. great pool. kick ass tennis court. no air conditioning. and flies everywhere! by the end of the weekend, it became a health hazard to use one of the bathrooms. yea, this was a classy joint. what the house lacked in amenities was surely made up for in the varied personalities of our house mates. twenty pseudo-strangers partying like rock stars (or r&b stars, as we actually saw usher one saturday nite at a club) and drinking as if it were our last days on earth. our livers may never be the same, but we certainly generated enough dramatic material for a reality show cbear and i would like to pitch to fox-- Share House: Hamptons. can you see it now?...it can be franchised into many variations like, Share House: Aspen. we like to keep things seasonally-agnostic.
for me, my favorite hamptons share weekend was weekend #3. cbear and i rented a car and headed out butt-early one friday to explore east hampton's fabled Main Beach--regarded as one of the top beaches in the U.S. its stretch of sand was crowded with other early weekenders-- but walk a little ways down away from the central section near the parking lot, and you come across rockier stretches, where you can steal a look at some of the finest mansions as well as a view of the cute surfer boys (emphasis on boys) catching waves in the chilly waters. fantastic beach time can only be matched by lunch at the famed Lobster Roll in Amagansett where we had, what else? but lobster rolls! fresh and chunky pieces tossed in mayo and over-stuffed into a toasted hot dog bun. how do you spell H-E-A-V-E-N?
after two-days of more craziness at the house...we capped off the weekend with an afternoon at Montauk-- the eastern most point of Long Island. here, you can stroll up to the famous lighthouse or just perch yourself on a rock and stare out at the massive Atlantic. me? i plan to head back in winter, run on the snow-covered beach and seek out my future dream home a la Joel and Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
summer may be ending, but i have enough brain cells left (i hope) to wax sentimental over kegs, karaoke, taboo (diamonds!), and endless hot tub shenanigans.
Certified and Ready: May I take your drink order?
having worked for 6+ years plus the various intern/retail/babysitting stints i've had since early high school, the mere idea of unemployment doesn't sit well with me. so what else besides phone sex and prostitution could make me loads of money, yet not forcing me to sell out or sell my soul? bartending baby!
my friend dan and i always said we'd wanted to get some mixology skills. i mean, we like to drink...we mine as well get paid while doing it! ha. or so we thought.
we enrolled at the New York Bartending School, and though the class was filled with a mix of young kids rearing for a good time (literally, KIDS, at least five of them were under 21)-- we soon realized that bartending school was not going to be as easy as we thought. class was fun but at the end of it, you started to wish the bottles were filled with things OTHER than colored water. it was a two-week 40 hour course that sucked up our nights and caused some minor distress as our final test was to make 20 drinks in under 6 minutes. two shots of qualude and two shots of sicilan kiss? What the Fuck? who the hell orders these things? well...now, dan and i do...purely for shits and giggles. but still.
i scored a personal best of 4 min and 20 seconds on my speed drill and dan and i leveraged our extensive years of training (read: quick road to alcoholism) to speed through the written test as well. now we just need to get behind a bar, strut our stuff, and make some good tips. any takers?
I Heart NYC
people can say what they will about obnoxious new yorkers, the smell of the subway, or the supposed lack of beauty that is the nyc skyline. but ever since i was a kid, nyc was the ultimate destination to make things happen. sure, the city has its idiosyncracies-- its bad habits that i could certainly live without...but for every moment of wanderlust that stirs me to travel abroad or just out of state...i always return home back to nyc. THIS love affair, unlike so many others, is going to last.
what i love most about new york is its many secrets--the hidden gems tucked away in corners of manhattan or brooklyn or queens that you don't often see, but stumble upon by accident. the first thing on my nyc to-do list was a visit to the fantastic Museum of the City of New York (MCNY). typically, people tend to head straight to The Met (which is definitely amazing and expansive) but not everyone ventures uptown a few more blocks, past 90th street (if even) to roam through museum mile's other cultural havens. asides from the MCNY, you can visit the Cooper-Hewitt museum, housed in the exquisite Carnegie Mansion. its a personal favorite of mine; meander through the rooms of exhibits (Cooper-Hewitt focuses on design so its permanent and rotating collection features everything from drawings and prints to glassware, books, and furniture) and then relax on the lawn of its beautiful private garden.
en route to the MCNY i took a detour into the north end of Central Park. as with many new yorkers, our ritualistic exploration of the park stops at the resevoir-- there's a tendency to forget that the park extends upwards to 110th street where both the landscape and pace are markedly different from its more crowd-centric mid and lower sections. i entered at 110th and Lenox as my eyes were quickly drawn to the expansive Harlem Meer-- the second largest lake in the park--and perhaps the prettiest section I've ever seen. it's perimeter is surrounded by a canopy of trees dotted with uncrowded benches, making it a perfect spot to sit, be quiet and just reflect. a few blocks south is the Conservatory Garden, the only formally planned garden in all of Central Park. this is truly a hidden wonder. once you pass through the gates, you're in a virtual oasis filled with a diversity of plant life-- flowers of all kinds, trimmed hedges, twisting trees--all set along immaculate pathways leading to lovely fountains, positioned as the garden's natural focal points. there are actually three distinct gardens here--each representing a particular european landscape style-- english, french, and italian. i took my time, sat by the fountain of the Three Dancing Maidens, and let the sound of trickling water wash over me, allowing all my neuroses to slip off and just float away. moments like this are so rare, and reminds me of why nyc is such a special place.
other NYC highlights in the past three weeks:
the aforementioned Museum of the City of New York-- go see the New York Changing photography exhibit. you will marvel at thetransformation this city has seen in the past 70+ years...and perhaps be saddened by the loss of architectural wonders from a bygone era.
http://www.mcny.org/exhibitions/current/87.html
take a guided tour of Governor's Island, a 90 acre land mass nestled between lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. it's a former military post but also contains layers of American (and New York) history dating back to American Revolutionary days. you can only take a guided tour on weekdays-- and I highly recommend it as you walk through the two forts and learn about the island's function as a former military community-- with everything from old victorian style homes, an old hospital, prison, church, and synagogue. the cost for the ferry ride over is just $6 and it makes for a lovely 2 hours.
http://www.governorsislandnationalmonument.org/
and when the cultural endeavors are done with, what's a better way to cap off a day than with a nice cold beer? how about nice cold $2 PBR tall boys (24 oz baby) and an awesome view to boot? forget the beach and head to Long Island City, Queens for the Water Taxi Beach Bar. this is by far the most relaxing, laid-back bar in the city. they've set up sand and benches on the edge of the Water Taxi terminal on the east river...and you can down cheap beer and munch on close to cheap burgers and dogs while watching the sun set over the manhattan skyline.
http://watertaxibeach.com/
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